July 1998

Lima, Ohio

Kurt was in love. He was in love with the golden toffee eyes that sparkled, the plump lips that could puff up into a rose of a pout or narrow and bring out dimples in the cheeks when they smiled. He was in love with the warm, soft hand that grabbed his - never asking permission -to pull him along on the next adventure.

"Mama...can we go to the park again today?" four year old Kurt asked his mother.

"Is this about your new best friend?" she teased. Elizabeth Hummel could see the anticipation in her son's eyes and knew she couldn't say no to him.

"Yes, Mama. We love each other," he said with that single-minded seriousness only a four year old can feel.

"Okay, I bet Miss Jo will probably be the park after lunch. How about if we make cupcakes to bring with us?"

"Yes, Mama. Chocolate! Mercedes would like that."

*******

Kurt walked slowly next to his mother on the way to the park. She carried the basket of cupcakes and Kurt wriggled out of her grasp as he saw his best friend near the swings. Elizabeth sat down on the bench next to Josephine Jones, cooing into the blanket on Jo's lap.

"Aww...and how is your little bundle of sweetness this afternoon? He's what? Two months now?"

"Yes, two months today. Tice so much better. That colic is finally over and he's sleeping all night once again," Jo replied with a smile on her face. Elizabeth smiled at the cute nickname Jo called her new son, Matthias.

"Kurt insisted we bring treats today. I hope that's all right?"

"Oh, that's wonderful. Kurt is such a sweet boy."

"YIPE!" came a squeal from the playground and the two mothers turned to see what caused it. Kurt came running, pulling his friend by the hand behind him.

"Mama, Mama! I licked Mercy's cheek, but she didn't taste like chocolate!"

Elizabeth gasped and blushed all the way up to her hairline, dropping her head as though she could hide her face in her blouse. She glanced over to Mercedes' mother, trying to gage if she was upset, running excuses through her mind to explain her son's unacceptable behavior.

But Jo was laughing so hard, no sound came out. She was struggling to keep the laugh inside, but it was coming out of her eyes in tears.

"Oh! Kurt, honey. You could make the angels cry," Jo finally said, barely keeping a straight face.

Kurt looked in confusion to his mother, a quiver starting in his lower lip. He didn't know what he's done wrong. Mercedes skin was so pretty, just the same shade as delicious chocolate and he thought since they looked so much alike, maybe she tasted like chocolate.

Elizabeth took her hands away from her face, embarrassment fading into the urge to stop herself from laughing.

"Kurt. We don't lick people, no matter how delicious their skin looks. It isn't polite. Now, you apologize to Mercedes," Elizabeth said gently.

"Sorry, Mercy. Do you want a cupcake?"

"'S okay, Kurt. Yes, I would like a cupcake, thank you."

"They're chocolate," Kurt said. "My favorite." He gave Mercedes an impish grin.

Mercedes giggled, grabbed Kurt's hand as they ran back to the playground. "This time I'm the pirate and I get to rescue you!" she called as they ran.

Josephine looked at Elizabeth, reached over and quickly gave her hand a bit of a squeeze. "Kids will come up with the darndest things..." And Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head and smiling at Jo.

#######

May 2002
Cemetery
Lima, Ohio

Kurt stood next to his father, looking up to see him with tears sliding down his face. Kurt knew he was sad, as sad as Kurt was, and this whole thing made so little sense. They were saying goodbye to Kurt's mama. He understood that she had been sick, that she was in heaven now. But he could never really believe in heaven. Why would God take his mother from them? And now his dad was so sad, it was like he was sort of leaving, too. In years to come, Kurt's dad would be the rock that Kurt could build his life on, his shelter in the wind, but the grief was so new – Burt hadn't been able to see past the shock of losing Elizabeth to be there for Kurt yet.

It wasn't very cold out today, no wind or rain. But Kurt was so cold, he was shivering a little and he felt as though he might fall. Dad didn't see -he was too absorbed in his grief. Kurt closed his eyes, unable to cope, feeling so lost. And suddenly there was a warm hand slipping into his. He opened his eyes and caught the beautiful golden toffee eyes of his best friend, a tear running down her cheek, Mercedes was holding onto Kurt's hand for dear life. He was so thankful for her today, giving him the strength to stand up until the service was over.

#####

September 2002
East Memorial Elementary School
Lima, Ohio

"Mercedes!" Kurt waved at his friend, running to catch up with her on the steps on the first day of school.

"Kurt! I couldn't find you on the playground this morning. Who's class are you in?" she smiled at him, wondering if they might be in the same class where she could keep an eye on him. Kurt tended to rub kids the wrong way sometimes. Maybe it was because he was an only child, or because his mama was gone and nobody was there to tell him not to wear odd clothes or talk about stuff that wasn't cool. But Mercedes had appointed herself his guardian angle years ago, and she took her duties seriously. Her brother, Tice, didn't seem to need her – but anyone could see that Kurt did.

And so it went, year after year. Sometimes they could share the same class, other years they had to wait until the walk home after school to share their day. They made new friends, got different interests, fought, did their homework together, spent weekends sleeping over at each other's houses. They graduated from elementary school, going on to junior high and finally high school.

#####
September 2009
McKinley High School
Lima, Ohio

"I couldn't get into AP French, Kurt, but we still have four classes together. What about this Glee Club?" Mercedes asked Kurt after sign-up on the first day of scheduling.

"I'll miss you in French. Told you to study over the summer!"

"Now, you know we were busy with other things. And I didn't see you opening books during the lake trip. Besides, Mr Perfection, what 15 year old needs to be taking French?" Mercedes narrowed her eyes. It had always been a competition between them and Kurt had won a tiny battle in getting ahead of his friend in French.

"That would have been rude after your parents invited me along," Kurt leaned over and placed a tiny kiss on her pretty round cheek.

"Kurt! What do you mean 'invited'? You know you've spent every summer since 2003 at the lake with us. You're family."

"Okay, okay...I know it. I love your mom and dad. Even your little brother."

"That's better, Hummel. Now, how about Glee Club? Do you think we can both sing without scratching each other's eyes out over the solos?" Her harsh words were blunted by the gentle smile on her lips – but her fists were, as usual, perched on her hips.

"If you don't mind being my swan and singing backup..." Kurt countered. He loved this…could play it all day with her as they had done for so many years.

"Kurt! You can be my Pip," her eye-roll now accompanying the fists to hips stance.

"Okay, Gladys, take off your rose-coloured glasses. Those solos are mine."

"Bring it."